Palazzo dei Cartelloni is a Renaissance palace that was rebuilt in the 17th Century for the mathematician Vincenzo Viviani, who had been a pupil of the astronomer and scientist Galileo Galilei. Viviani dedicated his home to his esteemed teacher and placed two large scrolls on the building's façade that describe the work and achievements of his master. Galileo was banned by the Pope in 1616 for defending the idea that the Earth revolved around the sun (rather than the Earth being at the Center of the Universe, which was the Church’s position) and Viviani wanted to make sure that his master’s important discoveries would be remembered by the Florentines. The façade is a well-known landmark and the interiors of the building feature painted ceilings and frescoed walls. Before being Viviani’s residence, the site was the home of the prominent del Giocondo family, whose most famous member is celebrated in what is perhaps the world most famous painting, da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (La Gioconda). It features a beautiful garden, gallery, library and light-filled painting studio spaces.
Palazzo Maidoff is also a Renaissance palace, just two blocks from the majestic Duomo and around the corner from Teatro della Pergola, Italy’s first opera house. It features an inner courtyard as well as a gallery space, lush garden and light-filled studio spaces.